Issue 36 | April 2022
Good and Green News & Updates
City of Sunrise Earth Day Festival Rocks with Sunny Globe Bird and Squirrel Characters in a tree
Earth Day Rocked Sunrise Sportsplex!
The City of Sunrise's 2022 Earth Day Festival ROCKED! Over 2,000 people attended the annual festival on Saturday, April 2, which was held at Sunrise Sportsplex. The celebration featured a Tree Planting Ceremony in commemoration of Arbor Day, a plant giveaway of more than 500 plants, live music, rides, educational booths, fantastic food and beverage vendors, and dozens of exhibitors and engaging displays. This year, the Sunrise Drop Savers Poster Contest winners were also acknowledged and presented with prize bags. Some photos from the event are shared below!

Volunteers Help Plant More Than 200 Trees in Sunrise!
On Saturday, April 9, One Tree Planted sponsored two tree planting events in Sunrise. The effort was coordinated through NatureScape Broward in partnership with City of Sunrise Good and Green and Broward County Parks. Locations selected for the volunteer tree planting events were Sunrise Fire Station #92 and Markham Park. Over 200 trees were planted by more than 50 community volunteers from the Timberland Store at Sawgrass Mills, Skanska, Sunrise CERT, City employees and their families, local students, and Hands On Broward volunteers. Nearly 20 different Florida native, wildlife-friendly trees were planted.
Master Gardeners Learn about Water Treatment with Sunrise Utilities
The 2022 Broward Master Gardener Volunteer Class visited the City of Sunrise for a tour of the Sawgrass Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant on March 12. Master Gardener Volunteer is a title granted by the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to individuals who complete training course and the required volunteer hours to educate the public on how to solve their landscape, water, plant nutrition, and pest problems. Participants on the tour got to see where raw aquifer water is treated then distributed for drinking, and the lab where water quality is tested. Take a behind the scenes tour of the Sawgrass Plant in Episode 3:Water Treatment filmed as part of the Good and Green Video Series.
Welleby Elementary Garden Gets a Refresh
The Welleby Elementary Butterfly Garden is a Certified Wildlife Habitat through National Wildlife Federation (since 2017). In 2019, the school was selected to be part of the Connectivity Grant Project with NatureScape Broward and received butterfly-attracting plants for their garden, an educational presentation, native plant saplings for students to take home, and five large shade trees planted on school property. Last month, Ms. Harris’s 4th Grade Gifted Students had a gardening day to add Corkystem Passion Vine, Coontie, and Florida Thoroughwort to the garden led by NatureScape staff. The students will also be adding Beach Verbena to the garden, and a Black Ironwood tree. 
Ways to Create a ROCKING Habitat
Start by Planting Native Species
Providing a sustainable habitat for wildlife begins with the plants you choose. When you plant the native plant species that wildlife depend on, you create habitat, and begin to restore the local environment.

Florida-friendly and native plants are adapted to our area's growing conditions, and produce the food and shelter needs compatible with local wildlife. Here are some of our favorite native plant species for attracting birds and butterflies:

  • Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
  • Simpson's Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans)
  • Pigeon Plum (Coccoloba diversifolia)
  • Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine)
  • Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara)
  • Firebush (Hamelia patens)
  • American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
  • Yellow Necklacepod (Sophora tomentosa var. truncata)
  • Fakahatchee Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
  • Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)
  • Milkweed or Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Corky-stem Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora suberosa)

Learn more by watching our Good and Green Video Series Episode 1: Butterfly Gardening for the 4 Must Have's for any wildlife garden, or visit one of the City's demonstration butterfly gardens at Sunrise Senior Center (10650 W Oakland Park Blvd.), Sunrise Dan Pearl Library (10500 W Oakland Park Blvd.), or Sunrise Sportsplex (9101 NW 50 St.) to see a working garden.

Create a native plant list specific to the conditions in your yard with Florida Native Plant Society's online database www.fnps.org/plants.
Invite Wildlife to Your Yard or Neighborhood by Planting a Simple Garden that Provides Habitat
Imagine your garden teeming with singing songbirds, colorful butterflies, flitting hummingbirds and other small wildlife.
Creating a wildlife garden helps reverse some habitat destruction that is hurting wildlife. And it's easier than you might think. Learn how to create your own ROCKING habitat that attracts wildlife:

Remove Invasive Plant Species

Observe Wildlife from a Safe Distance

Choose Plants that Provide Shelter, such as Shrubs or Trees

Keep Cats Indoors

Include a Variety of Native and Florida-Friendly Species in Your Yard

Never Use Pesticides and Limit Fertilizers

Grow Plants with Flowers, Seeds, Nuts and Berries that Local Wildlife Eat
Save the Date! We're bringing back our popular Be A Butterfly Hero Gardening For Wildlife Workshop on Wednesday, June 15, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Location is yet to be determined. Email sustainability@sunrisefl.gov to reserve a seat.
Thank you to all the employees, volunteers and community members that participated in the Sunrise Earth Day Festival 2022!
City of Sunrise Florida logo